By Susan H. Pinkus
Susan Pinkus
PAPOR has an illustrative history – with a small cadre of researchers and academics starting the chapter in the 1960’s. The early years started with Mervin Field, who started the California Poll; Bill Nicholls, director of SRC; Will Pilcher, who worked for Levi Strauss; and Berkeley academics, among others.
The early years had intermittent conferences or one day sessions at the university. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, PAPOR was resuscitated with the help of Chuck Rund, president of Charlton Research. During that time, more members were recruited, and an attempt was made to have yearly conferences at Asilomar, not far from Monterey. It was a small group that talked and debated over hot political, academic, and research issues of the day. The weekend conferences were stimulating and successful. But it was not a cohesive group – most of the members at that time were from Northern California, with a smidgen of Southern Californians thrown in and no interaction once the conference was over.
In the mid-1980s, a group of public opinion researchers continued what Rund had started, including Mark DiCamillo, director of the California Poll, Debra Jay, President of Field Research, and myself, because we realized how important it was to share new ideas and problems presented to researchers, network with other researchers, and also to see what new, interesting research was being done.
To keep the chapter alive, we four would alternate executive council positions. We would also put on programs, alternating between northern and southern California. Plus a yearly conference was still held at Asilomar. This went on for a number of years, with just a small number of members trying to get PAPOR on its feet.
In the late 1990’s, AAPOR, the national organization, became more active in helping the chapters, and they gave us the names of members who lived in the western region of the United States, as well as guidance as to how to motivate our members. Starting in 2001, with Pinkus as president and Rund as vice president, PAPOR became a more active Chapter. We enlarged the membership to include researchers from the western states (Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada) and got more of the members involved. Mollyann Brodie from the Kaiser Foundation became the first president of the new, improved PAPOR and with her enthusiasm and activism, the Chapter thrived.
PAPOR now has over 100 members with more than 50 attending the yearly conference held in San Francisco. We have panels that are important to the industry as a whole (i.e., cell phone usage, non-response rates, politics), including panels that also have significance for the western region; we also offer a short course at the conference, which has included courses from Don Dillman and Jon Krosnick. Plus we have a plenary that has brought AAPOR presidents to the conference.
For me, it has been such a joy to see PAPOR blossom. I feel like a proud parent watching the chapter grow. I hope you get a chance to come to our conference in December to network and interact with the members.
Susan Pinkus founded a consulting organization for political polling and public opinion research. She is the former Director of the Los Angeles Times Poll
2006 Executive Council
President – Liz Hamel (Kaiser Family Foundation – KFF)
Vice President – Richard Rands (Silicon Valley Computer Genealogy Group)
Past President – Jon Cohen (Public Policy Institute of California)
Treasurer and Webmaster – Janet Brigham (Oregon Research Institute)
Secretary – Ed Ledek (Clear Insights Group)
Conference Chair – Doug Strand (Strategies to End Homelessness, Inc.)
Associate Conference Chair – Jill Darling (USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research)
Membership Chair – Ginger Blazier (Insights Association)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Doug Rivers (YouGov)
Councilor-at-Large – Floyd Ciruli (University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies)
Councilor-at-Large – Jennifer D. Franz (JD Franz Research, Inc.)
2007 Executive Council
President – Richard Rands (Silicon Valley Computer Genealogy Group)
Vice President – Doug Strand (Strategies to End Homelessness, Inc.)
Past President – Liz Hamel (Kaiser Family Foundation – KFF)
Treasurer, Secretary, and Webmaster – Janet Brigham (Oregon Research Institute)
Conference Chair – Jill Darling (USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research)
Associate Conference Chair – Floyd Ciruli (University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies)
Membership Chair – Ginger Blazier (Insights Association)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Anthony Salvanto (CBS News)
Councilor-at-Large – Susan Pinkus (S.H. Pinkus Research Associates)
Councilor-at-Large – Quin Monson (Brigham Young University)
Councilor-at-Large – H. Stuart Elway (Elway Research, Inc.)
Councilor-at-Large – Jennifer D. Franz (JD Franz Research, Inc.)
2008 Executive Council
President – Doug Strand (Strategies to End Homelessness, Inc.)
Vice President – Ginger Blazier (Insights Association)
Past President – Richard Rands (Silicon Valley Computer Genealogy Group)
Treasurer and Webmaster – Jill Darling (USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research)
Secretary – Jennifer Paluch (Public Policy Institute of California)
Conference Chair – Floyd Ciruli (University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies)
Associate Conference Chair – Paul T. Melevin (Independent – Applied Sociologist)
Membership Chair – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Mollyann Brodie (Kaiser Family Foundation – KFF)
Councilor-at-Large – Susan Pinkus (S.H. Pinkus Research Associates)
Councilor-at-Large – Quin Monson (Brigham Young University)
Councilor-at-Large – Anthony Salvanto (CBS News)
2009 Executive Council
President – Ginger Blazier (Insights Association)
Vice President – Floyd Ciruli (University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies)
Past President – Doug Strand (Strategies to End Homelessness, Inc.)
Treasurer – Jill Darling (USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research)
Secretary – Carolina Gutierrez (Skedulo)
Conference Chair – Paul T. Melevin (Independent – Applied Sociologist)
Associate Conference Chair – Amy Simon (Goodwin Simon Strategic Research)
Membership Chair – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Quin Monson (Brigham Young University)
Councilor-at-Large – Leora Lawton (TechSociety Research)
Councilor-at-Large – Mark DiCamillo (Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies)
Councilor-at-Large – Susan Pinkus (S.H. Pinkus Research Associates)
Councilor-at-Large – Anthony Salvanto (CBS News)
2010 Executive Council
President – Floyd Ciruli (University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies)
Vice President – Paul T. Melevin (Independent – Applied Sociologist)
Past President – Ginger Blazier (Insights Association)
Treasurer – Mechelle Timmons (Data Force Research)
Secretary – Jennifer D. Franz (JD Franz Research, Inc.)
Conference Chair – Liz Hamel (Kaiser Family Foundation – KFF)
Associate Conference Chair – Amy Simon (Goodwin Simon Strategic Research)
Membership Chair – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Quin Monson (Brigham Young University)
Councilor-at-Large – Leora Lawton (TechSociety Research)
Councilor-at-Large – Susan Pinkus (S.H. Pinkus Research Associates)
Councilor-at-Large – Anthony Salvanto (CBS News)
Councilor-at-Large – Elisha Smith (Center for Effective Philanthropy)
Councilor-at-Large – Donna Fong (Lamar University)
Councilor-at-Large – Ed Ledek (Clear Insights Group)
2011 Executive Council
President – Paul T. Melevin (Independent – Applied Sociologist)
Vice President – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Past President – Floyd Ciruli (University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies)
Treasurer – Mechelle Timmons (Data Force Research)
Secretary – Ed Ledek (Clear Insights Group)
Conference Chair – Amy Simon (Goodwin Simon Strategic Research)
Associate Conference Chair – H. Stuart Elway (Elway Research, Inc.)
Membership Chair – Sarah Cho (Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Kelly Patterson (Brigham Young University)
Councilor-at-Large – Leora Lawton (TechSociety Research)
Councilor-at-Large – Jill Darling (USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research)
Councilor-at-Large – Susan Pinkus (S.H. Pinkus Research Associates)
Councilor-at-Large – Anthony Salvanto (CBS News)
Councilor-at-Large – Paul Johnson (The Harris Poll)
Councilor-at-Large – Donna Fong (Lamar University)
Councilor-at-Large – Sonja Petek (Public Policy Institute of California)
2012 Executive Council
President – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Vice President – Mechelle Timmons (Data Force Research)
Past President – Paul T. Melevin (Independent – Applied Sociologist)
Treasurer – Paul Johnson (The Harris Poll)
Secretary – Ed Ledek (Clear Insights Group)
Conference Chair – Sarah Cho (Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies)
Associate Conference Chair – Sonja Petek (Public Policy Institute of California)
Membership Chair – Corinne Hoag (Wonder: Strategies for Good)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Phil Brenner (American University – School of International Service)
Councilor-at-Large – John Fogli (Sentenium, Inc.)
Councilor-at-Large – Anthony Salvanto (CBS News)
Councilor-at-Large – Samantha Luks (Harvard University – Cooperative Election Study)
Councilor-at-Large – Brianne Gilbert (Loyola Marymount University – StudyLA)
Councilor-at-Large – Donna Fong (Lamar University)
Councilor-at-Large – Benjamin Messer (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
2013 Executive Council
President – Mechelle Timmons (Data Force Research)
Vice President – Sarah Cho (Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies)
Past President – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Treasurer – Paul Johnson (The Harris Poll)
Secretary – Donna Fong (Lamar University)
Conference Chair – Sonja Petek (Public Policy Institute of California)
Associate Conference Chair – Jui Shrestha (The World Bank)
Membership Chair – Brianne Gilbert (Loyola Marymount University – StudyLA)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Benjamin Messer (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Councilor-at-Large – John Fogli (Sentenium, Inc.)
Councilor-at-Large – Anthony Salvanto (CBS News)
Councilor-at-Large – Samantha Luks (Harvard University – Cooperative Election Study)
Councilor-at-Large – Barbara Simon (US Department of Veterans Affairs)
Councilor-at-Large – Jessica Gollaher (Population Research Center)
Councilor-at-Large – Kyle Dropp (Morning Consult)
2014 Executive Council
President – Sarah Cho (Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies)
Vice President – Sonja Petek (Public Policy Institute of California)
Past President – Mechelle Timmons (Data Force Research)
Treasurer – Paul Johnson (The Harris Poll)
Secretary – Jill Bruins (WIT Research)
Conference Chair – Benjamin Messer (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Associate Conference Chair – Jui Shrestha (The World Bank)
Membership Chair – Bianca DiJulio (Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Jessica Gollaher (Population Research Center)
Councilor-at-Large (Webmaster) – Brian Fowler (Fluidigm Corporation)
Councilor-at-Large (Sponsorship Chair) – Barbara Simon (US Department of Veterans Affairs)
Councilor-at-Large (Short Course Chair) – Brianne Gilbert (Loyola Marymount University – StudyLA)
Councilor-at-Large (Mini Conference Chair) – Melinda Jackson (San Jose State University)
Councilor-at-Large (PAPOR Trail Editor) – Donna Fong (Lamar University)
Councilor-at-Large (Student Representative) – David Vannette (Meta)
2015 Executive Council
President – Sonja Petek (Public Policy Institute of California)
Vice President – Paul Johnson (The Harris Poll)
Past President – Sarah Cho (Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies)
Treasurer – Bianca DiJulio (Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute)
Secretary – Jill Bruins (WIT Research)
Conference Chair – Benjamin Messer (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Associate Conference Chair – Paul Harwood (Useristics)
Membership Chair – Jennifer Ramano Bergstrom (Freelance – Self Employed)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Jessica Gollaher (Population Research Center)
Councilor-at-Large (Webmaster) – Brian Fowler (Fluidigm Corporation)
Councilor-at-Large (Sponsorship Chair) – Melinda Jackson (San Jose State University)
Councilor-at-Large (Short Course Chair) – Vasudha Narayanan (University of Florida)
Councilor-at-Large (Mini Conference Chair) – David Vannette (Meta)
Councilor-at-Large (PAPOR Trail Editor) – Donna Fong (Lamar University)
Councilor-at-Large (Student Representative) – Jenny Yeon (Cal Poly Pomona)
2016 Executive Council
President – Paul Johnson (The Harris Poll)
Vice President – Benjamin Messer (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Past President – Sonja Petek (Public Policy Institute of California)
Treasurer – Bianca DiJulio (Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute)
Secretary – Jenny Yeon (Cal Poly Pomona)
Conference Chair – Mingnan Liu (Meta)
Associate Conference Chair – Mira Norton (Slack)
Membership Chair – Scott Riding (Y2 Analytics)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Jessica Gollaher (Population Research Center)
Councilor-at-Large (Webmaster) – Brian Fowler (Fluidigm Corporation)
Councilor-at-Large (Sponsorship Chair) – Ginger Blazier (Insights Association)
Councilor-at-Large (Short Course Chair) – David Vannette (Meta)
Councilor-at-Large (Mini Conference Chair) – Dean Bonner (Public Policy Institute of California)
Councilor-at-Large (PAPOR Trail Editor) – Donna Fong (Lamar University)
Councilor-at-Large (Student Representative) – Alejandra Gimenez (Brigham Young University)
2017 Executive Council
President – Benjamin Messer (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Vice President – Bianca DiJulio (Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute)
Past President – Paul Johnson (The Harris Poll)
Treasurer – Jenny Yeon (Cal Poly Pomona)
Secretary – Alejandra Gimenez (Brigham Young University)
Conference Chair – Mira Rao (Slack)
Associate Conference Chair – Jessica Gollaher (Population Research Center)
Membership Chair – Kelsey White (Method Communications)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Mingnan Liu (Meta)
Councilor-at-Large (Webmaster) – Laura Wronski (Momentive)
Councilor-at-Large (Sponsorship Chair) – Ginger Blazier (Insights Association)
Councilor-at-Large (Short Course Chair) – Lynn Stallone (Forza Insights Group, LLC)
Councilor-at-Large (Mini Conference Chair) – David Kordus (David Binder Research)
Councilor-at-Large (PAPOR Trail Editor) – Danell Brewster (Employment Development Department)
Councilor-at-Large (Student Representative) – Rebecca Hofstein Grady (Singularity Six)
2018 Executive Council
President – Bianca DiJulio (Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute)
Vice President – Mira Rao (Slack)
Past President – Benjamin Messer (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Treasurer – Jenny Yeon (Cal Poly Pomona)
Secretary – Cecilia O’Donnell (Data Driven Supply Chain LLC)
Conference Chair – Jessica Gollaher (Population Research Center)
Associate Conference Chair – Kelsey White (Method Communications)
Membership Chair – Rebecca Hofstein Grady (Singularity Six)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Danell Brewster (Employment Development Department)
Councilor-at-Large (Webmaster) – Laura Wronski (Momentive)
Councilor-at-Large (Sponsorship Chair) –Lynn Stalone (Forza Insights Group, LLC)
Councilor-at-Large (Short Course Chair) – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Councilor-at-Large (Mini Conference Chair) – David Kordus (David Binder Research)
Councilor-at-Large (PAPOR Trail Editor) – Samantha Finley (Employment Development Department)
Councilor-at-Large (Student Representative) – Lindsay Bayham (Meta)
2019 Executive Council
President – Mira Rao (Slack)
Vice President – Jessica Gollaher (Population Research Center)
Past President – Bianca DiJulio (Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute)
Treasurer – Jenny Yeon (Cal Poly Pomona)
Secretary – Rebecca Hofstein Grady (Singularity Six)
Conference Chair – Laura Wronski (Momentive)
Associate Conference Chair – Erin Pinkus (HubSpot)
Membership Chair – Natalie Teixeira Bailey (Westat)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Danell Brewster (Employment Development Department)
Councilor-at-Large (Webmaster) – Brian Wells (NORC at the University of Chicago)
Councilor-at-Large (Sponsorship Chair) – Lynn Stalone (Forza Insights Group, LLC)
Councilor-at-Large (Short Course Chair) – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Councilor-at-Large (Mini Conference Chair) – Alyssa Dykman (AECOM)
Councilor-at-Large (PAPOR Trail Editor) – Samantha Finley (Employment Development Department)
Councilor-at-Large (Student Representative) – Harry Noone (Oregon State University)
2020 Executive Council
President – Jessica Gollaher (Population Research Center)
Vice President – Samantha Finley (Employment Development Department)
Past President – Mira Rao (Slack)
Treasurer – Danell Brewster (Employment Development Department)
Secretary – Rebecca Hofstein Grady (Singularity Six)
Conference Chair – Erin Pinkus (HubSpot)
Associate Conference Chair – Ran Wei (University of California, Riverside)
Membership Chair – Natalie Teixeira Bailey (Westat)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Anne Weaver (Smart Electric Power Alliance)
Councilor-at-Large (Webmaster) – Brian Wells (NORC at the University of Chicago)
Councilor-at-Large (Sponsorship Chair) – J. Michael Dennis (NORC at the University of Chicago)
Councilor-at-Large (Short Course Chair) – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Councilor-at-Large (Mini Conference Chair) – Alyssa Dykman (AECOM)
Councilor-at-Large (PAPOR Trail Editor) – Cailey Muñana (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Councilor-at-Large (Student Representative) – Rico Neumann (University of Washington)
2021 Executive Council
President – Samantha Finley (Employment Development Department)
Vice President – Rico Neumann (University of Washington)
Past President – Jessica Gollaher (Population Research Center)
Treasurer – Danell Brewster (Employment Development Department)
Secretary – Rebecca Hofstein Grady (Singularity Six)
Conference Chair – Erin Pinkus (HubSpot)
Associate Conference Chair – MaryLauren Malone (Amazon)
Membership Chair – Jennifer Benz (NORC at the University of Chicago)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Anne Weaver (Smart Electric Power Alliance)
Councilor-at-Large (Webmaster) – Brian Wells (NORC at the University of Chicago)
Councilor-at-Large (Sponsorship Chair) – Natalie Teixeira Bailey (Westat)
Councilor-at-Large (Short Course Chair) – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Councilor-at-Large (Mini Conference Chair) – Alyssa Dykman (AECOM)
Councilor-at-Large (PAPOR Trail Editor) – Matthew Foy (Employment Development Department)
Councilor-at-Large (Student Representative) – Rajiuddin Najam (World Bank)
2022 Executive Council
President – Rico Neumann (Technical University of Berlin)
Vice President – Erin Pinkus (HubSpot)
Past President – Samantha Finley (Employment Development Department)
Treasurer – Danell Brewster (Employment Development Department)
Secretary – Allyson Dillehay (Opinion Dynamics)
Conference Chair – Laura Wronski (Momentive)
Associate Conference Chair – Paul Johnson (The Harris Poll)
Membership Chair – Jennifer Benz (NORC at the University of Chicago)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Morgan Santoro (CareQuest Institute for Oral Health)
Councilor-at-Large (Webmaster) – Viola Chow (US Government Accountability Office)
Councilor-at-Large (Sponsorship Chair) – Benjamin Messer (US Energy Information Administration)
Councilor-at-Large (Short Course Chair) – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Councilor-at-Large (Mini Conference Chair) – Ashley Kirzinger (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Councilor-at-Large (PAPOR Trail Editor) – Matthew Foy (Employment Development Department)
Councilor-at-Large (Student Representative) – Phillip Meng (University of Washington)
2023 Executive Council
President – Erin Pinkus (HubSpot)
Vice President – Danell Brewster (Employment Development Department)
Past President – Rico Neumann (Technical University of Berlin)
Treasurer – Benjamin Messer (US Energy Information Administration)
Secretary – Meagan Doll (University of Washington)
Conference Chair – Paul Johnson (The Harris Poll)
Associate Conference Chair – Phillip Meng (University of Washington)
Membership Chair – Jennifer Benz (NORC at the University of Chicago)
Student Paper Competition Chair – Morgan Santoro (CareQuest Institute for Oral Health)
Councilor-at-Large (Webmaster) – Matthew Foy (Employment Development Department)
Councilor-at-Large (Sponsorship Chair) – Ashley Kirzinger (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Councilor-at-Large (Short Course Chair) – Bob Davis (Davis Research)
Councilor-at-Large (Mini Conference Chair) – Ashley Kirzinger (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Councilor-at-Large (PAPOR Trail Editor) – Samantha Finley (Employment Development Department)
Councilor-at-Large (Student Representative) – Tiffany Neman (US Census Bureau)